Attorney General Kamala Harris has banked $3 million for her re-election bid.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

Attorney General Kamala Harris has banked $3 million for her...

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California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris speaks on the second night of the 2012 Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena, Wednesday, September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Harry E. Walker/MCT)

State Attorney General Kamala Harris, who has already banked $3 million for a re-election campaign that she made official Wednesday, lacks just one thing - a credible Republican opponent.

The possibility that a Democratic statewide officeholder will face an unobstructed path to a second term underscores the degree of GOP decline in California, where Republican registration is down to just 29 percent - 11 points behind Democrats.

And Harris isn't alone. As candidates began taking out their campaign papers Wednesday, no prominent Republicans had stepped forward to run for lieutenant governor, state controller or treasurer.

Harris noted that a Republican could still file to run against her by the March 7 deadline, and that if one didn't, she would "probably celebrate." The former San Francisco district attorney credited "the work we did over the past three years" on consumer and criminal justice issues for scaring away potential opponents.

Some Republicans expressed disappointment that no one in their party has challenged Harris, whom many believed would be vulnerable this year after she barely defeated Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley to win election in 2010.

Pelosi's GOP rival

John Dennis, a Republican who is running against House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for her San Francisco congressional seat, said California's political health depends on a vibrant GOP.

"If people are leaving this amazing state, and being driven out because of Sacramento ... it's not going to get better if there's only one party," Dennis said. "People are used to having two choices, and if the Republicans do the right thing, they'll come back."

Some party members fear the lack of Republican candidates is due to the top-two primary system, which will be tested at the state level for the first time in 2014. Under it, the top two finishers in the June primary advance to the general election no matter what their party.

Lopsided advantage

With Democrats holding a lopsided registration advantage, the theory goes, potential Republican candidates assume they have little chance of advancing to the November general election.

Harris has no significant Democratic challengers, either. Her campaign will be managed by the San Francisco-based SCN Strategy group, headed by Averell "Ace" Smith, Dan Newman and Sean Clegg. They are also advisers to Gov. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Controller Wendy Greuel, who is running for the House seat being vacated by the retiring Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman of Los Angeles.

There's been much speculation about Harris' political plans beyond 2014, with many expecting her to make a run for governor in four years. Harris said Wednesday she is focusing on this year's election and no further.

"I'm interested in being attorney general of California. I love this job," she said. "There's a lot more work to be done, and I'm excited to do it."